HV 3006 
.07 P4 
1906 
Copy 2 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



027 331 736 3 






HV 3006 
.07 A4 
1906 

copy 2 REPORT 



Oreoow , 

Board of Building Commissioners 



STATE OF OREGON 



RELATIVE TO THE 



Location and Establishment of an Institution 
for Feeble-Minded and Epileptic Persons 



TWENTY-FOURTH 

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 

REGULAR SESSION 



1907 




NQTrv" 



SALEM, OREGON 

J. R. WHITNEY, STATE PRINTER 
19CKJ 



D. Of 0. 
FFF 14 1910 



REPORT. 



SALExM, Oregon, December 28, 1906. 

the Honorable Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon, 
Twenty-Fourth Regular Session: 

Gentlemen: Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 181 
of the General Laws of Oregon for 1905, the State Board of 
Public Building Commissioners, consisting of the Governor, 
Secretary of State, and State Treasurer, were instructed and 
authorized to ascertain the probable cost of a proper building 
or buildings for the care of the feeble-minded and epileptic 
children of the State. And for the purpose of ascertaining 
such probable cost, the kind and character of ^uildings proper 
to be erected, and also the expense of maintenance, the Board 
were authorized to visit or send an agent or agents to visit 
other institutions of similar kind in other States. 

The Board were further authorized to select a site and 
grounds sufficient for the location and proper conduct of such 
an institution and in their discretion to purchase the same for 
such sum as to them would seem reasonable and just, at or 
near the State Capital. The sum of $15,000 was appropriated 
for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the act. 
The act also required the Board to make a full report of their 
proceedings to you, together with a bill for an act for the 
control, conduct and maintenance of said institution for de- 
fective and epileptic children. 

VISIT TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF SIMILAR KIND. 

Members of the Board being unable to personally visit 
other institutions of similar kind in other States, Mr. G. 
W. Jones, superintendent of the School for the Blind, vol- 
unteered to undertake the work, and, as their agent, visited 
such institutions in other States. Mr. Jones was instructed 
to inquire particularly as to the amount and kind of land 



4 Report of Building Commissioners. 

necessary for such an institution; also to ascertain the 
probable cost, kind and character of buildings proper to be 
erected, the expense of maintenance, and obtain such other 
information as would assist the Board in carrying out the in- 
structions contained in the act. He spent several weeks in 
investigating institutions in the States of Minnesota, Wiscon- 
sin, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and New 
Jersey, and submitted a full and comprehensive report, giving 
the results of careful observations, and makes valuable sug- 
gestions. The only expense incurred was Mr. Jones' actua 
traveling expenses, amounting to $219.44. His report i: 
included herewith and made a part of this report. He also 
collected a large amount of material relative to the training 
of the feeble-minded, consisting of books, magazine articles, 
treatises and reports of nearly every institution of a similar 
kind in the country; all of which has been classified and may 
be found in the office of the State Library Commission. 

Mr. Jones' report shows that there are probably more than 
one thousand feeble-minded, idiotic, and epileptic persons 
within the State qualified for admission to the institution con- 
templated, one-half of whom are cared for at home and do 
not require institution care. 

In view of these facts, it appeared at the outset that the 
appropriation made by the act was insufficient to purchase the 
grounds or land required, or to undertake to prepare plans 
and specifications for the necessary buildings. 

Mr. Jones' report showed conclusively that an institution 
of this kind, taking into consideration the future needs and 
requirements, should have a large tract of land: 

First — In order to give proper isolation to the inmates ; 

Second — To meet the demands of the natural growth of 
the State; 

Third — To furnish the inmates of the institution with the 
products of a farm, thereby greatly lessening the per capita 
cost of maintenance of the institution, and also making it as 
nearly self-supporting as is possible; 

Fourth — To afford healthy employment and exercise for 
the inmates confined in the institution. 



Report of Building Commissioners. 5 

- certain that within two decades the institution will 

r e, at least, one thousand inmates, and such of the land 

as is not required for immediate use can be used profitably 

by other of the State institutions, which are all located near 

by. and all of which have now insufficient lands for profitable 

Experience has demonstrated that where the other institu- 
tions of the State have failed to take into account the future 
growth, the State is called upon to pay more than it would 
have had to pay if it had acquired the land before the institu- 
tion was permanently located, and what may seem exhorbit- 
ant prices for land necessary to extend the boundaries of 
their holdings. 

It is the consensus of opinion of those engaged in the work 
of caring for feeble-minded persons that the most useful and 
healthy occupation is farming, dairying, and gardening, and 
that such employment is especially adapted to those unfortu- 
nate persons who will come under the supervision of an in- 
stitution of this character. In similar institutions in other 
States it has been found that the produce of the farm raised 
by the help of the inmates of such an institution contribute 
largely towards lessening the per capita cost of maintenance. 

The Board therefore considered it desirable at the outset 
to secure sufficient land to meet the foregoing necessities of 
such an institution for several decades to come and esti- 
mated that from 800 to 1,000 acres should be purchased. 

The provision of the Constitution requiring all State insti- 
tutions to be located at the seat of government has given us 
some doubt as to the distance it may be located from the 
seat of government without infringement upon this require- 
ment. 

The Constitution (Article XIV, Sec. 3) provides that "all 
the public institutions of the State hereafter provided for by 
the Legislative Assembly shall be located at the seat of gov- 
ernment." In the case of State vs. Metschan, 32 Or. 386, 
known as the Eastern Oregon Branch Asylum case, the Su- 
preme Court held that the location of a branch asylum in 
Eastern Oregon would be a violation of this constitutional 
provision, in view of which the Board addressed a letter to 



G Report of Building Commissioners. 

the Attorney General, asking for his opinion as to the limit 
of distance from Salem the Board could go in locating an 
institution for the feeble-minded. In his opinion to the 
Board he advises that the word "at" in the provision which 
reads "located at the seat of government," means "at or 
near," depending upon the circumstances. That is, if the 
Board can not get within a short distance of the seat of 
government a place adapted to the uses and needs of an 
institution for feeble-minded, they would have a right to go 
further away, or if the price of a suitable place near by 
should be unreasonable and exhorbitant, or if it could not be 
secured for any good reason, then it could be located farther 
out, but that everything being equal, it should be located at 
the place nearest to Salem. 

The Board in advertising for proposals asked for offers of 
land within a distance of ten miles from Salem, and required 
those submitting same to give the Board an option of the 
right of purchase until February 22, 1907. 

More than ninety separate tracts of land, within the vicin- 
ity called for, aggregating about 20,000 acres were sub- 
mitted, ranging in price from $25 per acre for land ten miles 
from the Capitol Building to $150 per acre for land adjoining 
the Penitentiary. 

The prices asked for all the land offered seemed to the 
Board considerably above the market price asked for land in 
this locality, and a number of those submitting prices have 
since offered to accept less. We, therefore, assume, in the 
event the purchase is authorized and the appropriation made 
therefor, the necessary land can be secured for less than the 
prices hereinafter stated. 

Nearly all of the tracts offered were visited, either by the 
Board or its agents. In the judgment of the Board, the 
larger part of the land offered was unsuitable for an institu- 
tion of this kind, owing principally to the lack of transporta- 
tion facilities near it, and also not coming within the limit of 
the provisions contained in the opinion of the Attorney Gen- 
eral above referred to. 

Having in view this opinion as to location, and taking into 
consideration price and adaptability for an institution of the 



Report of Building Commissioners. 

character in mind, the Board would recommend either of the 
following described tracts of land as a suitable site and con- 
taining grounds sufficient for the proper conduct of the in- 
stitution : 

The Miller, Coleman, et al farms, located on the Southern 
Pacific Railroad about one and one-half miles from the ter- 
minus of the Salem street car line and two and one-half miles 
south of the Capitol Building. The total offerings in this 
tract amount to about 900 acres, 550 acres of which are now 
in cultivation, and remainder pasture and. timber, the price 
averaging about $65 per acre, if this quantity is purchased. 
If 600 acres of the best land offered is selected, the price will 
average a little over $75 per acre. The land is first quality 
agricultural land, has considerable timber, and most excellent 
building sites, with the railroad running through it. The tract 
is watered by a good, never-failing creek and several good 
wells and springs. If a side-track was put in, building and 
other material could be laid down at a very small expense. 
There are several dwellings and barns on this property, in fair 
condition, that could be used to advantage for the needs of the 
institution. The location is isolated from the public travel, 
though being situated close to the city. 

The farms offered in the name of the Waters Bros., located 
about four miles due south, on the Salem-Jefferson highway, 
adjoining the Liberty fruit district: The total offerings in 
this tract amount to about 900 acres, the price averaging $65 
per acre, the land is 763 acres rolling and level, 135 acres 
bottom, 660 acres in cultivation, and sixty-eight acres in 
timber, and first quality agricultural land. There is sufficient 
running water on the place; also a number of springs. The 
persons offering this land agree to build and operate an 
electric car line between the city of Salem and the site offered 
free of cost or expense to the State, and to furnish a suits 
bond in reasonable sum for the construction and operation 
of the same. They further agree to have the same in oper- 
ation within eighteen months from the date of purchase. 

To purchase either of the above tracts would require ap- 
proximately the sum of $58,000. In our judgment, it would 
be to the best interests of the State to purchase at this time 



8 Report of Building Commissioners. 

the maximum acreage, and we would recommend an appro- 
priation of $58,000 for purchase of the necessary lands for 
the institution. 

KIND AND CHARACTER OF BUILDINGS. 

The cottage system seems to be the generally accepted plan 
for institutions designated for the care of defectives. This 
system provides for the care and custody of the inmates of 
the institution in a group of buildings with the object of 
classifying the inmates, separation of the sexes and those of 
different ages; also the segregation of employees and educa- 
tional and industrial departments from the living and service 
departments. One of the advantages of this plan is that a 
small beginning may be expanded and developed as circum- 
stances and needs of the institution may require and appro- 
priations permit. This plan of buildings is much more con- 
ducive to good health than where the inmates are confined 
in one or more large structures, as it permits of proper ventil- 
ation of the buildings, also securing plenty of light and sun- 
shine, besides. lessening the danger from fire and destruction 
of a large amount of property. 

The buildings would be grouped around an administration 
building, in which building would be located the offices of 
the institution and the living and sleeping rooms of the 
officers. Flanked on either side would be the dormitories 
containing the day or living rooms and class rooms for the 
present, or until necessary buildings for instruction were 
erected. Back of the administration building would be lo- 
cated a central dining hall, and in the rear of this building 
would be located the general kitchen, laundry, heating, and 
power house, and near by the barns and auxiliary buildings. 
The administration building, kitchen, laundry, and heating 
plant should be built of sufficient size to accommodate the 
maximum capacity and the conditions of the institution; the 
other necessary buildings being added as the institution in- 
creases in size. All of the buildings should be absolutely 
plain and free from any expensive architectural adornments. 

As previously stated, there are probably 500 persons within 
the State qualified for admission to an institution of this 



Report of Building Commissioners. 9 

kind. In view of this fact, we would probably be warranted 
in recommending that sufficient appropriation be made for 
the erection of the necessary buildings and equipment to 
accommodate that number, but realizing the heavy burdens 
that the taxpayers of the State are called upon to bear, and 
the desirability of economy and retrenched appropriation, we 
have concluded to recommend the erection of only sufficient 
buildings to accommodate one-half that number, omitting 
some special buildings which might be considered desirable. 
Following is the list of buildings, with, the probable cost, 
as near as can be estimated, based on the cost of buildings 
milar size and construction erected by the State: 

Administration building, with furniture and fixtures $15,000 

Three dormitory buildings, furniture, bedding, etc 37,500 

Central dining hall, and equipment 6,500 

General kitchen, with cooking apparatus....; 3,500 

Central heating and power house 3,500 

Laundry building, and necessary equipment 3,500 

Employees' cottage, and furniture 2,500 

Barn 3,000 



$75,000 

The above estimates are based upon buildings constructed 
of wood, excepting the lavatories and bath rooms, which 
would be brick and cement for sanitary reasons, and the 
general kitchen and heating and power house, which should 
be brick or concrete. In this connection, we would call your 
attention to Mr. Jones' remarks and recommendations regard- 
ing buildings constructed of wood for an institution of this 
kind, which remarks seem to us sound and logical. 

Following is a list of probable cost of miscellaneous items 
of expense necessary for the institution: 

Water supply and sewage $ 2,500 

Farm implements and machinery 1,500 

Dairy cows 1,000 

Horse? 2,000 

$ 7,000 



10 Report of Building Commissioners. 

MAINTENANCE. 

In event appropriations are made for the purchase of the 
necessary land for the erection and furnishing of the neces- 
sary buildings, it is estimated that the same could not be 
completed and ready for the admission of inmates before 
July 1, 1908; therefore, it would only be necessary to make 
an appropriation for the salaries of officers, teachers, and 
employees, and for the maintenance and general expenses 
of the institution for the six months ending December 30 of 
that year. 

The cost of maintenance would, in the judgment of the 
Board, be somewhat greater than that for the care of the 
insane. It would, however, be lessened by the increase in the 
number cared for, and also by the development of the farm 
after the first year, and the institution was in good running 
order. The present per capita cost of maintenance of the in- 
sane asylum is approximately $12 per month, or $144 per year, 
and with strict economy $200 per capita would be as small 
an estimate as could be made for the maintenance of an in- 
stitution for the care of the feeble-minded. We would, there- 
fore, recommend that an appropriation of $20,000 be made 
for that purpose for the remainder of the biennial term. 

PROPOSED BILLS. 

In accordance with the requirements of the act instructing 
us to submit this report, we submit, herewith, a bill for an 
act to acquire lands, buildings, and personal property for an 
institution for feeble-minded, and a bill creating an institu- 
tion for feeble-minded and providing for its support, main- 
tenance, management, and control, and for the admission, 
support, transfer and discharge of inmates. It was thought 
best to embody the laws necessary in two separate bills, for 
the reason that after securing the land and erection of the 
buildings required, the requirements of this law will have 
been fulfilled while the law for the maintenance of the institu- 
tion will always remain in force and will, no doubt, be 
amended as conditions and circumstances seem to require. It 
will be noted that we have included a section in the bill for 
the maintenance and control of the institution providing that 



Report of Building Commissioners. 11 

all persons admitted to the institution, or those legally re- 
sponsible for. their care, pay such sum as will be fixed by the 
Board of Trustees, not exceeding the sum of $40 per annum, 
and in th'e event these persons are unable to pay the sum the 
county shall pay the amount. This amount to be collected by 
the county and paid to the State, and shall be a debt due the 
State the same as other county obligations. 

The reason for this obligation is that the Board considers 
that the parents or persons legally responsible for the support 
of feeble-minded, idiotic or epileptic persons, if able, and if not 
able, then the community in which they reside, should bear 
a part of the burden of caring for them, and not be permitted 
to turn them over to the State and forever lose all interest 
and be relieved of future responsibility. We regret to say, 
as trustees of the insane asylum, that we know there is a 
growing disposition on the part of parents and persons re- 
sponsible for such unfortunates who are able to contribute to 
their support to place the expense on the State, and when thus 
assumed have no further interest for the care for which they 
are morally and legally responsible. 

We have followed the prevailing custom in this State of 
providing in the bill that the trustees of the institution shall 
consist of three State officers, viz. : the Governor, Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, and Attorney General, who are 
also created the board charged with the duty of purchasing 
the land and erecting the necessary buildings. In this con- 
nection, we would recommend the passage of an act providing 
for the appointment by the various boards composed of State 
officers of a general secretary and purchasing agent, which 
officer should be charged with the duty of keeping the minutes 
and records of all the boards, and have supervision of the 
purchase of all supplies by competitive bids for all public in- 
stitutions. We believe that if the proper person were ap- 
pointed to this position he could save the State many times 
over the compensation paid him. Under existing arrange- 
ments the superintendent of each institution has to attend to 
the purchase of supplies, in addition to other duties, where, 
if some person were charged with the duty of attending to 
this matter for all the institutions, thereby consolidating the 



12 Report of Building Commissioners. 

purchases, quite a saving could be affected. For instance, if 
each institution requires garden hose during the season, seven 
separate small lots are bought, whereas if all required were 
purchased at one time the gross amount could be purchased 
at a lower price. 

CONCLUSION. 

There are now in the United States thirty-four institutions 
supported by the public for the special care of feeble-minded, 
idiotic, and epileptic persons. Our observation and study of 
this class of unfortunates has convinced us that the State of 
Oregon has undertaken very tardily an imperative duty in 
carrying out modern ideas of public philanthropy. We, 
therefore, submit this report for your favorable consideration, 
and trust that the recommendations and suggestions here pre- 
sented may receive favorable consideration at your hands. 
Respectfully submitted, 

Geo. E. Chamberlain, 

Governor. 
F. I. Dunbar, 

Secretary of State. 
Chas. S. Moore, 

State Treasurer. 



Report of Building Commissioners. 



PROPOSED BILLS. 



A bill for an act creating the State Institution for Feeble-Minded, and 
providing for its support, maintenance, management, and control, 
the admission, support, transfer, and discharge of its inmates, and 
the payment of their expenses, and appropriating money therefor. 

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: 

Section 1. That there shall be established an institution for the 
training, care, and custody of feeble-minded, idiotic, and epilpetic per- 
sons under the name and style of the " State Institution for Feeble- 
Minded." 

Section 2. The Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and 
Attorney General shall constitute a Board of Trustees for said State 
Institution for Feeble-Minded, and shall have the entire control and 
management of the said institution, lands purchased for it, and its 
affairs, and said Board may in its discretion permit any portion of said 
lands to be used by any other of the State institutions, until all thereof 
can be utilized by the said State Institution for Feeble-Minded. Said 
Board of Trustees shall establish a system of government and make all 
rules and regulations for the institution for the admission of inmates, 
enforcing discipline, imparting instruction, preserving health, and for 
proper physical, intellectual, and moral training of the inmates of 
said institution. 

Section 3. The Board of Trustees shall submit to the Legislative 
Assembly, at the beginning of each regular session, a report covering 
the two years ending with the 30th day of September next preceding, 
showing the receipts and expenditures, in the general condition of the 
institution, the number of its inmates, and such other matters touching 
the affairs of the institution as it may deem advisable. 

Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Board to appoint a superin- 
tendent, who shall be the executive officer of the Board and have gen- 
eral management of the institution, subject to the direction of the 
Board. Before assuming his office as superintendent of the institution for 
feeble-minded, he shall give a bond, the amount to be paid by the 
Board of Trustees, running to the State of Oregon, with sureties satis- 
factory to the Board of Trustees of said institution, conditioned for the 
faithful performance of all his duties as such superintendent and ac- 
counting for all moneys received and paid out by him, and all property 
and effects of the institution in his charge. And he shall make a full 
report to the Board of Trustees of all receipts and disbursements and 
all property and effects in possession at the date of his report, for the 
two years preceding the 30th day of September preceding each regular 
session of the Legislature. 



11 Report of Building Commissioners. 

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to appoint, with 
the approval of the Board, all officers, teachers, and employees deemed 
necessary by the Board for the administration and successful operation 
of the institution, and to prescribe their duties, fix their salaries and 
remove them when in his judgment the good of the service requires. 
All officers, teachers, and employees shall reside at the institution, unless 
otherwise provided by the Board of Trustees, and shall be provided 
with rooms, furniture, light, heat, and subsistence from the stores of the 
institution. The wife and minor children of the superintendent may 
reside at the school and have the same accommodations as officers, 
teachers, and employees. 

Section 6. The salaries of all officers, teachers, and employees of the 
State Institution for Feeble-Minded shall be audited and paid in the 
manner provided in Chapter 99 of the General Laws of Oregon for 
1905, for the payment of salaries of officers and employees of the State 
institutions therein mentioned, and all of the provisions of said Chapter 
99 are hereby made applicable to the institution for feeble-minded. 

Section 7. The Board of Trustees shall, from time to time, fix such 
a sum, not exceeding $40 per annum, as in the judgment of the Board, 
should be paid for the support of each inmate of said institution by his or 
her parent, guardian, or other person on his or her behalf, or by the 
county in which the person resided at the time of commitment. 

Section 8. All feeble-minded persons who are residents of the State, 
who, in the opinion of the superintendent of said institution, are of 
suitable age and capacity to receive instruction in said institution, and 
whose defects prevent them from receiving proper training in the public 
schools, and all idiotic and epileptic persons who are, and have been for 
a period not less than one year, residents of the State, may be admitted 
to their respective departments in said institution under such conditions 
and regulations as the Board of Trustees may provide. 

Section 9. Parents, guardians, or those legally responsible for the 
support of any feeble-minded, idiotic or epileptic person may apply to 
the superintendent of the State Institution for Feeble-Minded for a 
blank application, which, when filled out and approved by the judge of 
the county court of the county in which such feeble-minded, idiotic, or 
epileptic person resides, and by the superintendent of said institution, 
may be admitted to the Institution for Feeble-Minded. When any such 
person is admitted to the State Institution for the Feeble-Minded, the 
superintendent thereof shall certify same to the county judge of the 
county from which said applicant came, and also the Treasurer of the 
State of Oregon, whereupon the said State Treasurer shall charge 
against the county from which said person is received such a sum as 
shall have been fixed by the Board of Trustees of the institution for 
feeble-mintied, which shall not exceed $40 per annum, wihch sum the said 
county shall pay to the State Treasurer each year for the credit of the 
general fund of the State, at the same time and in the same manner 
that other county obligations are paid to the State, and shall continue 






Report of Building Commissioners. 15 

to pay the same so long as the said feeble-minded, idiotic, or epileptic 
person remains in the institution. 

Section 10. The person legally responsible for the support of any 
person so admitted shall provide the necessary traveling expenses of 
such person to the State Institution for Feeble-Minded, and shall pay 
annually to the county treasurer of the county in which said person 
resides the sum fixed by the Board of Trustees of said institution for 
the support of each inmate thereof, but if the person so liable be 
financially unable to pay such traveling expenses or said annual sum 
all not be required to do so, in which case the parent, guardian 
or next friend of such person, or any officer or taxpayer of the county 
in which such person resides who has made application to the superin- 
tendent of said institution for feeble-minded, which application has re- 
ceived the approval of the said superintendent and the county judge 
jreinbefore prescribed, may make application to the county court 
to be relieved from such payment, and upon a decision of such court 
that such feeble-minded, idiotic, or epileptic person is not able to pay 
the expense hereinbefore provided, and has no parents, guardian, or 
other person liable for his or her support who is able to provide the 
same, the court shall make and enter an order to that effect, and direct 
the county clerk to draw his warrant on the county treasurer for the 
amount of the necessary travelling expenses of such person to be paid 
from the general funds of the county in favor of the person who shall 
transport such feeble-mined, idiotic, or epileptic person to the State 
Institution for Feeble-Minded. 

Section 11. If parents, guardians, or those responsible for the sup- 
port of any feeble-minded, idiotic, or epileptic person who are able to 
pay the expenses mentioned in the foregoing sections neglect or refuse 
to pay such expenses, the county judge shall proceed to collect the same 
on behalf of the county in the manner prescribed by law for the col- 
lection of debts between individuals. 

Section 12. The Board of Trustees shall have power, in its discretion, 
to receive any person from any other State institution of the State into 
the State Institution for Feeble-Minded upon the advice of a competent 
physician, and the recommendation of the Board of Trustees or superin- 
tendent of such other public institution, and to retransfer such person 
to the institution from which such person came, and to perform all 
other acts necessary to render the institution efficient for the purposes 
for which it is established. 

Section 13. Whenever, in the opinion of the physician and superin- 
tendent of said institution, and inmate thereof is insane, they shall 
make an affidavit setting forth the fact and file the same with the Board 
of Trustees of said institution, and such Board of Trustees shall 
summon one or more of the physicians of the Oregon State Insane 
am to examine such alleged case of insanity and report his or their 
finding thereon to such Board of Trustees, and the Board is hereby 
authorized, in its discretion, in case such physician or physicians report 



H) Report of Building Commissioners. 

such inmate to be insane, to make an order transferring such inmate 
to the Oregon State Insane Asylum for care and treatment, and said 
inmate shall be transferred according to such order. 

Section 14. That all acts and parts of acts in conflict herewith be 
and the same are hereby repealed in so far as they are in conflict with 
the provisions of this act. 

Section 15. For the payment of the salaries of the officers, teachers, 
and employees, and for the maintenance and general contingent ex- 
penses of the Oregon school for feeble-minded for the two years end- 
ing December 31, 1908, there is hereby appropriated out of the money 
in the general fund in the State treasury, not otherwise appropriated, 
the sum of dollars. 



A bill for an act to secure lands, buildings, and personal property for 
the State Institution for Feeble-Minded, to authorize the employ- 
ment of the prisoners at the Penitentiary in furnishing labor and 
material therefor, and making an appropriation therefor. 

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: 

Section 1. The Board of Trustees of the State Institution for Feeble- 
Minded, consisting of the Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, and Attorney General, which Board is hereby created, is hereby 
authorized and directed to proceed, as soon as it is practicable to do so, 
to complete the purchase of lands heretofore selected, or which may be 
selected, upon which to locate the State Institution for Feeble-Minded, 
and for purposes connected therewith, by securing good and sufficient 
deeds of conveyance thereto, with the usual covenants of warranty. 
Said Board shall, before purchasing said lands, require complete ab- 
stracts of title showing an indefeasible, fee simple title thereto, which 
shall be submitted to the Attorney General for examination, and such 
titles shall not be accepted until approved by the Attorney General and 
his approval is endorsed on the abstracts. 

Section 2. Said Board of Trustees shall have power to sell or other- 
wise dispose of, utilize or remodel any building or other structure that 
may be upon any of such lands at the time of their purchase, and 
shall further have power to purchase or otherwise acquire any and all 
additional real estate, or rights therein, for the purpose of construct- 
ing, operating and maintaining sewerage, water supply, lighting, heat- 
ing, and power plants, or appliances, for said State Institution for 
Feeble-Minded. 

Section 3. After acquiring title to the real estate for the use of the 
State Institution for Feeble-Minded, the Board of Trustees of the in- 
stitution shall cause the same to be suitably graded and laid out, and 
to be erected thereon all buildings and other structures which may be 
deemed necessary to the complete establishment and equipment of such 
State Institution for Feeble-Minded according to modern, advancd, and 
practical methods of conducting such institutions. Said Board of Trus- 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 1* 

tees shall have power to appoint an architect to draw all plans and 
specifications and to supervise the work, and full power to receive bids. 
enter into contracts and do all things necessary or advisable in the 
prosecution of the work hereby contemplated, including the furnishing, 
lighting, and heating of said buildings. 

Section 4. The Board of Trustees of the State Institution for Fe?bk- 
Minded is hereby authorized and directed to make requisition upon the 
superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary for prisoners to labor 
upon the grounds in clearing, grading, excavating, and preparing them 
for the purposes of the institution, and for all brick necessary to be 
used in constructing the buildings thereon. The superintendent of the 
Oregon State Penitentiary is hereby authorized and instructed to 
furnish as many, prisoners as may be necessary or practicable to work 
on said grounds and to manufacture and burn all brick that may be 
required in the construction of the various buildings as provided in 
this act, using prisoners from the penitentiary to perform all labor. 
The said prisoners shall be under the sole custody and direction of the 
authorities of the Oregon State Penitentiary while engaged in such labor, 
and the expense of extra guards and any other extra expense made 
necessary by reason of such labor shall be paid for from the appropri- 
ation made by this act. 

Section 5. Said Board of Trustees shall have authority to purchase 
and supply to the institution for feeble-minded all necessary livestock, 
farming utensils, and implements, and such other materials as may be 
necessary to fully equip the said institution for the purposes of its 
creation. 

Section 6. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this 
act, there is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the State 

treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of dollars, 

or so" much thereof as may be necessary. 
Build. Com.— 2 



IS Report of Building Commissioners. 



REPORT OF AGENT. 



To the Honorable Board of Capital Building Commissioners: 
Gentlemen : Chapter 181 of the laws of the Legislature 
of 1905 made it the duty of your Board to ascertain the best . 
means for the care and training of feeble-minded and epilep- 
tic children. You were authorized by this act to visit States 
maintaining institutions for this purpose, or appoint an agent 
to carry on the investigation for you. 

The object of the inspection was to find out the probable 
cost of maintenance, the kind and character of buildings re- 
quired, and secure other information that would be of ad- 
vantage in the establishment of an institution for the care of 
these unfortunate persons in Oregon. You were also required 
to report the result of your inquiry and investigation to the 
next session of the Legislature. 

INSTITUTIONS VISITED. 

It was my honor to be appointed your agent for this im- 
portant work, and pursuant to my duty as such, I spent ten 
weeks, beginning May 20, 1906, inspecting fourteen institu- 
tions located in various parts of the United States. The 
following are the institutions visited : Minnesota School for 
Feeble-Minded, Faribault; Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded 
Children, Lincoln; Wisconsin Home for Feeble-Minded, Chip- 
pewa Falls ; Indiana School for Feeble-Minded Youth, Fort 
Wayne; State Institution for Feeble-Minded for Western 
Pennsylvania, Polk ; Craig Colony for Epileptics, Sonyea, New 
York; New York Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Wo- 
men, Newark; State Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, 
Syracuse, New York; School for Feeble-Minded, New York 
City (Randall's Island) ; Rome State Custodial Asylum, Rome, 
New York; Massachusetts School for Feeble-Minded, Waver- 
ly; New Hampshire School for Feeble-Minded, Laconia; New 
Jersey School for Feeble-Minded Boys and Girls, Vineland; 



Report of Building Commissioners. 19 

Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children, 
Ehvin. 

MEANING OF THE WORD FEEBLE-MINDED. 

It will be well before proceeding further to define the word 
feeble-minded, give the classes included in its meaning and 
make a statement of the aim and purpose of the institutions 
devoted to the care of the persons designated by the term. 

The compound word, feeble-minded is very comprehensive 
in meaning. It includes all grades of idiocy and imbecility, 
from the person a little below the normal, incapable of educa- 
tion by ordinary methods, to the profound idiot that simply 
eats and lives. Feeble-mindedness is distinguished from in- 
sanity in this very important respect : Feeble-mindedness is a 
condition of the brain due to retarded growth, which surgery 
nor medicine has been able to alleviate. Insanity is a disease 
of the brain which frequently yields to the skill of the phy- 
sician. The feeble-minded lack development and should have 
care and training. The insane need a remedy and should 
have care and treatment. "Dementia," says Ireland, "begins 
with average intelligence, which gradually diminishes; idiocy 
with a low amount of intelligence which gradually increases." 
The feeble-minded require development and growth; the in- 
sane medicine or surgery. One needs for its amelioration a 
school, the other a hospital. 

The distinction is the basis for the separation of the feeble- 
minded and insane which has been effected in most of the 
states of the Union, as well as the countries of Europe. 

The aim of the institution for feeble-minded is educational ; 
it is primarily a school, the home and hospital features are 
mere adjuncts to the central purpose. But it must not be un- 
derstood that any amount of education and training can re- 
store an abnormal mind. It may, however, improve it. 

PATHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION. 

The feeble-minded are classified from a pathological stand- 
point as follows : 

1. Genetious idiocy, includes those whose affliction is due 
to a congenial condition complete before birth and not to be 
attributed to any specific disease. Heredity or injury to the 



20 Report of Building Commissioners. 

mother before the birth of the child are the most frequent 
causes of this form of idiocy. 

2. Microcephalic idiocy, as the term indicates is character- 
ized by a very small skull imperfectly developed in contour. 
It is supposed to be caused by the arrested development of the 
brain. One of the institutions of the country has received five 
children of this class from one mother; another, two from a 
single family. 

3. Hydrocephalic idiocy is produced by a nervous disease 
resulting in a superabundant fluid in the cranial cavity. The 
skull is distended to enormous proportions and deformed. 

4. Eclampsic idiocy is caused by injury to the brain by 
convulsions at birth or during infancy. The child may never 
talk and is educated with difficulty, but it may be taught to do 
ordinary work. 

5. Epileptic idiocy is quite common, being due to the rav- 
ages of the terrible disease. The largest number of cases 
are attributed to heredity. Their condition is improved by 
plenty of regular out door exercise and close attention to diet. 
Many of them are valued laborers on the farm. 

6. Paralytic idiocy is the result of paralysis of the brain. 
One or both sides of the body may be affected. The child is 
usually susceptible to mental training to quite an extent and 
occasionally you will find good workers among them. 

7. Trumatic idiocy results from an injury to the brain 
caused by a blow or fall. 

8. Inflamatory idiocy some times comes from measles, 
scarlet fever, and other diseases of that character. 

9. Sclerotic idiocy has as predisposing causes tuberculosis 
and nervous diseases of the parent. 

10. Syphilitic idiocy is quite rare as most of the children 
who inherit this disease die in infancy, and few reach over 
the twelfth or fourteenth year. 

11. Cretinism is also quite rare in this country. The 
cause is the absence of the thyroid gland, which results in 
dwarfing the physical and mental growth. The thyroid 
treatment has had very satisfactory results when adminis- 
tered constantly. 

12. Idiocy of deprivation means that condition in which a 



Report or Building Commissioners. 21 

ild remains who has been deprived of the senses such as 
and hearing. 

PSYCHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION. 

The psychological classification followed in most of the 
>ols is: 

1. The idiot. Apathetic and excitable. 

He is lowest in the scale of mental development knowing 
enough to cry when hungry or in pain; he cannot speak 
or understand language addressed to him and recognizes only 
se constantly with him; he is untidy in his habits and is 
usually unable to walk. The excitable idiot either dies in in- 
fancy or becomes apathetic. 

2. The idio-imbecile is a step in advance of the idiot. He 
is poorly developed physically but may learn to walk, speak 
a few words and may be trained to self-help to a limited 
degree. 

3. The imbecile. Low, middle and high grade. 

The imbecile is susceptible to much more training but 
book learning is hard for him to acquire and soon lost after 
he leaves school. He may be trained to work and perform 
fairly simple domestic duties. 

The middle grade imbecile constitutes a large class of the 
inmates of the institution ; they become with patient train- 
ing valuable laborers in the garden, field, laundry or shop. 
They may acquire a knowledge of arithmetic, geography and 
history and learn to read and write, but their development is 
best accomplished by systematic manual training. 

The high grade imbecile approaches the normal condition 
in body and mind, but there is a weakness in judgment, will- 
power and independence, that renders him unequal in the race 
of life. 

4. The moral imbecile appears to have no sense of right 
and wrong; the gratification of his desires or passions without 
any regard to the rights or feelings of others is characteristic 
of this class. They are a most dangerous class to be at large 
and should by all means remain in the permanent custody of 
the state. 



Report of Building Commissioners. 



EDUCATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE FKKBLK-MINDED.. 



Asylum care.. 



Profound ( &JSttoMe [Unimprovable. 



Superficial j gj^fible f ! niprovaUlo in self-help only. 

IIMO-1M UKCILE. 

Improvable of self-help and helpfulness. 
.Trainable In very limited degree to assist others. 



I 



MORAL IMBECILE. 



Custodial lift 1 and Mentally and morally deficient, 
perpetual guard- I Low grade: Trainable in industrial occupations; temperament bes- 

ianship i tial. 

Middle grade: Trainable in industrial and manual occupations; a 

. plotter of mischief. 
High grade : Trainable in manual and intellectual arts ; with a gen- 
ius for evil. 

Long apprentice- f imbecile. 

ship and colony 

life under protec- | Mentally deficient. 

lion I Low grade: Trainable in industrial and simplest manual occupa- 
tions. 
Middle grade: Trainable in manual arts and simplest mental ac- 
quirements. 
.High grade: Trainable in manual and intellectual arts. 

Trained foraf backward or mentally feeble. 

place in the| 

world ! Mental processes normal, but slow and requiring special training and 

1 environment to prevent deterioration ; defect imminent under 
slightest provocation, such as excitement, over-stimulation or 
L illness. 

AIM AND PURPOSE. 

The original aim .of the school for feeble-minded was solely 
educational. The Massachusetts legislature of 1850 which 
passed the first act incorporating an institution for the re- 
lief of this class designated the institution the Massachusetts 
School for Idiots and Feeble-Minded Youth, and further in- 
dicated its aim by adding this clause, "For the purpose of 
training and teaching such persons. 

The aim of the Illinois school, established in 1865, as set 
forth in the report of 1878, is as follows: "The design and 
object of the institution are not of a custodial character, but 
to furnish the means of education of that portion of the youth 
of the state not provided for in any other educational insti- 
tutions, who are of a proper school-attending age, and who 
shall remain such periods of time as shall, in the estimation 
of the superintendent and board of trustees suffice to impart 
all the education practicable in each particular case, and in 
conformity with regulations hereinafter specified." 



Report of Building Commissioners. 23 

The schools did not retain long, for reasons that will be 
shown later, their strictly educational character, but educa- 
tion has continued to be their chief function. They are re- 
garded (in the words of Dr. Howe), "as a link in the chain 
of common schools, the last indeed but still a necessary link 
to embrace all the children of the state." 

WHY TRAIN THE FEEBLE-MINDED? 

One of the well established doctrines of our civilization is 
that every child is entitled to the highest development of 
which it is capable and that it is the duty of the state to aid 
in providing means, for an elementary education. This prin- 
ciple applies with special force to the helpless. For many 
years the rights of the deaf and blind were disregarded in 
this respect, but for the last fifty years their claim for educa- 
tional advantages has been recognized and no state in the 
Union now fails to make some provision for their tuition. But 
the claim of the feeble-minded, the most helpless, the most 
needy of them all has been ignored in some of the States alto- 
gether, while others have made inadequate provisions for 
their training. All contribute through taxation to the educa- 
tional fund, the parent of the feeble-minded as well as others, 
and certainly his child has a claim upon the resources of the 
State to aid in its efforts to rise above the misery and degrada- 
tion his condition naturally entails. 

REASONS FOR CUSTODY OF FEEBLE-MINDED. 

But there is another reason why the feeble-minded should 
be cared for that outweighs all others in importance to the 
State. The effect of the mingling of the feeble-minded with 
society is a most baneful evil. The States are just beginning 
to realize that this is the source of much of the pauperism, 
feeble-mindedness, insanity, and crime. Competent authori- 
ties estimate that from 40 to 50 per cent, of feeble-minded- 
ness comes by inheritance from neurotic parents and Dr. 
Kerlin says that there is no field of political economy thai 
can be worked to better advantage for the diminution cf 
crime, pauperism and insanity than that of idiocy. 



24 Report of Building Commissioners. 

Unfortunately we do not have to go from home to find ex- 
amples of how this terrible scourge descends upon the prog- 
eny of feeble-minded parents. In the Willamette Valley a 
few years ago resided a family, consisting of a father, mother 
and four sons. The mother is said to be weak-minded. One 
son died at the reform school a few years ago. Another is 
now in the penitentiary, another son was sent to the peniten- 
tiary and was transferred to the asylum, another was sent to 
the reform school but escaped and again entered upon a 
career of crime and was sentenced to a term in the peniten- 
tiary. On account of his youth and former commitment to 
the reform school he was removed to that institution. After 
remaining for a time he stole a horse and again escaped from 
the reform school going to another State, where he became a 
horse thief and while resisting arrest for the crime was shot 
by an officer. He recovered from his wound and is now in 
prison. 

Another case is reported: A feeble-minded mother has a 
son in the reform school, another who has just finished a term 
in the penitentiary, and two daughters who live lives of pros- 
titution and crime. 

Instead of two, there are seven who will go on propagating 
their kind, in geometrical ratio just as certainly as they re- 
main outside of institutions. It is a matter of economy to the 
State to stop this spread of feeble-mindedness and crime at 
the earliest possible moment. 

From another county a case was recently reported of a 
feeble-minded girl who was the complaining witness against 
a young man whom it was alleged had assaulted her. The 
case brought out that she was feeble-minded, that she had 
been the victim of a number of men and boys among whom 
was her own father. It was also shown that she was suffer- 
ing from a loathsome disease that resulted from an immoral 
life. Such an irresponsible girl in a community is the cause 
of many boys being led into viscious habits that they would 
not otherwise have formed. 

In another section of the State a boy feeble-minded from 
birth is said to have destroyed property with fire to the value 
of $200,000.00, enough to build and maintain for several years 






Report of Bujldino Commissioners. 25 

a splendid institution for the care of the class. Other States 
have found it- economical to take care of them, and certainly 
our experiences in Oregon shows that it does not pay to let 
them go without State care. 

DEPARTMENTS OF THE INSTITUTION. 

The inmates of the institution are, therefore, divided be- 
tween two departments, viz : The school department and the 
custodial department. The first class receives instruction in 
literary studies in the school rooms, or manual training; the 
second class includes those who have completed their school 
work and still remain at the institution employed in industrial 
work or those who are incapable of receiving either educa- 
tion or training and have simply asylum care. 

The school department constitutes from a fourth to a third 
of the population of the schools. The Minnesota school has 
352 in the school department out of a total of 1048. Polk, 
Pa., has 275 out of 1230 inmates; Wisconsin, 220 of 700 are 
in the school department. 

SCHOOL WORK. 

The school room used for the instruction of feeble-minded 
does not differ in any essential particular from that for nor- 
mal children. The apparatus also is about the same except 
that more objects are stored away for use with the feeble- 
minded than would be deemed necessary in another school. 
The work of the school room is illustrated by showing objects 
so far as possible. The concrete always going before the 
abstract. 

The kindergarten is the basis of all school work, the 
methods and ideas employed there being carried into all 
grades of the school. 

Gift lessons give notions of number, size, form, color, etc. 

Games are used for sense training, songs and rhymes to 
give a knowledge of language. 

Stories, talks and representative games, care of plants and 
animals and the kindergarten life itself afford a training for 
the heart, give material for thought and teaches habits of in- 
dustry, order, promptness, accuracy, neatness, independence, 
gratitude, etc. 



26 Report of Building Commissioners. 

Occupation work, trains the head to control hand so far as 
possible, but the hand to work through mechanically. 

Free play develops the individuality of the child. 

In the advanced work the child usually goes as far as the 
fourth reader. He also has instruction in spelling, penman- 
ship, arithmetic, language, geography and history. But few 
books are used, most of the instruction being oral. The books 
in use are readers and books on history. But little use is made 
of a book in arithmetic. The abstract ideas of numbers are 
grasped with much difficulty and are acquired by handling 
and dealing with objects. Pupils who are able to complete 
this work by 16 or 17 years of age are regarded as doing 
well, though the attainment is not so great as the normal boy 
reaches at 10 or 11 in the public school. 

Music. — Most of the children have an ear for music and 
are apparently fond of singing. They are taught chapel songs 
which they sing heartily. Many of the schools have choruses 
which practice daily and furnish music for the entertainments 
given by the school. All schools have bands, ranging in num- 
ber of instruments from twelve to twenty-four. The bands 
are about the same as the one now maintained at our reform 
school. 

Gymnastic Work. — This is a very important part of the 
work of an institution and most of the schools give it consid- 
earble attention. The pupils are all physically lacking and 
building up a strong body that will ward off disease is the 
first step toward the improvement of the mental condition. 

Marching, special free exercises, running, mat work, use of 
chest weights and ladders, use of bean bags, soft rubber balls, 
basket balls, foot balls and medicine balls are employed. The 
gymnasium is used by all the children in the school depart- 
ment in most of the institutions. The Minnesota school gives 
special attention to this department. I also saw splendid 
work in this line at Syracuse, N. Y. The school at Elwyn 
probably has the best equipped gymnasium. 

MANUAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING. 

"The motto of the schools, 'We learn by doing; the working 
hand makes strong the working brain,' shows manual train- 



Report of Building Commissioners. 21 

ing to be the basis of development for all, but modified to suit 
the intelligence in each grade; thus classified, various occu- 
pations are arranged with the double purpose of securing all 
round development, and of giving at the same time opportun- 
ity for choice according to individual bent, the child being 
permitted gradually to devote himself more exclusively to that 
in which he shows a tendency to excel and to gain a certain 
automatic ease in what shall prove the initial of a life em- 
ployment." — Barr. 

The schools provide instruction in various branches of man- 
ual and industrial training. The sloyd system of manual 
training gives valuable work to a large number of younger 
boys. There are classes in wood carving, basketry, phyro- 
graphy, sewing, tailoring, lace making, net making, (ham- 
mocks, etc.), domestic and laundry work, printing, carpenter 
work, brush and mat making and shoe repairing. The farm, 
dairy and garden provide very satisfactory employment and 
training for a large number of the older boys. 

The work of the school room, as indicated above, is of the 
most practical nature. Its aim is the training of the child 
to minister as far as possible to his own wants and lessens 
his dependence on others. It tries to prepare the child for a 
life of usefulness in shop, kitchen, or laundry or in the 
garden, field or dairy. 

Nearly the first school room I entered for the education of 
this class brought me into the presence of ten or twelve low 
grade boys from eight to fourteen years of age. The teach- 
ers' first order to the children was to remove their shoe=. 
Some understood and began at once the arduous task, others 
sat dreamily by until by chance they saw the movements of 
their classmates when they began to imitate their actions. 

With much effort, many twists and strains, much pulling 
and an extravagant waste of energy, and with some assist- 
ance given by the brighter ones, the work was finally complet- 
ed, and then came the direction from the teacher to put their 
shoes on again. Considerable time was consumed in this ex- 
ercise, the teacher with infinite patience going from one to 
another of the slower ones, showing the child probably for 
the hundredth time the simple process of lacing and tying 



i^ s Report of Building Commissioners. 

. And thus is the low grade feeble-minded child trained 
to do the little things of life. 

It will be asked, what is the result of all this expenditure 
of patience and effort on the part of the teacher? A single 
concrete example reported by Dr. Barr, in his excellent book, 
Mental Defectives, must suffice to answer the inquiry. "W. 
T. Y. Boy 10 years old when photograph was taken. Speak- 
ing only a few words but understanding simply language; 
was self-willed, obstinate, very abusive, quarreling and fight- 
ing with other children, and in violent temper would attack 
any one. The boy was a low grade imbecile. His hand 
against every man, he fancied every man's hand against him. 
Always under strict custody that he might harm neither him- 
self nor others, he would vent his spleen in tearing his cloth- 
ing. His teacher, a woman of rare patience and devotedness, 
sat beside him one day, tearing strips of old linen and laying 
them in order. 'See, Willie, let us make some pretty stripes 
and lay them so.' His wonder grew apace at seeing her do 
what he had been reproved for doing. At once he responded, 
and a new bond of sympathy was established between them. 
She was playing his game — the only one, poor little lad, that 
he was capable of — and he joined in. 'Now we will draw out 
the pretty threads and lay them in rows.' For weeks the boy 
found quiet pastime in this occupation, and the violent nature 
grew quieter in proportion. One day the teacher said, 'Let us 
tie these threads together and make a long string.' It took 
him months and months to learn to tie those knots, but mean- 
while his attendants were having 'breathing space.' 'Now we 
will wind this into a pretty ball and I will cover all you make 
for the boys to play with,' and a new occupation was added 
to his meagre list. The next link in this chain of development 
was a lesson in knitting. Again, through months of patient 
teaching, it was at last accomplished, and the boy to the day 
of his death found his life-happiness in knitting caps for the 
children instead of tearing both them and their clothing." 

The observation of the superintendent of the Michigan 
Home for Feeble-Minded is especially interesting in connec- 
tion with this question : "The value of school work for the im- 
becile and for the epileptic is beyond question, for we see its 



Report of Building Commissioners. 29 

good results daily, especially when comparison is made with 
the same type of case admitted when too old for school ad- 
vantages, and the one who has passed through the drill, disci- 
pline, order, and teaching of the training school. One is list- 
less, aimless and almost useless, the other has the habit of in- 
dustry, continuity of action and self-helpfulness." 

TEACHERS OF FEEBLE-MINDED. 

The teachers of the feeble-minded as a class are very de- 
voted to their work and seem to enjoy it. The work requires 
great enthusiasm and inexhaustible patience, on the part of 
the teacher. They must have faith in their efforts. They must 
work on in the face of the most discouraging circumstances 
but in their vocabulary there is no such word as fail until 
every resource has been exhausted. The teacher must possess 
ability of a rare order to find the way into the consciousness 
of these children. A knowledge of kindergarten methods is 
very useful but these have to be adapted to the class. The 
teacher should have an intimate knowledge of human nature, 
be resourceful in finding ways out of difficulties and tact and 
good judgment in managing these children. Experience of 
this kind is a valuable asset for the teacher and many at- 
tendants have been promoted to the school room with this 
experience as the chief qualification. The teachers are very 
poorly paid, the salaries ranging from $25 to $40 a month. 

The New Jersey Training School, at Vineland, conducts a 
course during the summer for teachers who wish to engage 
in the work. The teachers in attendance during the past 
summer made an earnest and intelligent body, who will make 
themselves felt in this special line of teaching. 

WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF THE SCHOOLS. 

Very high expectations from school training were enter- 
tained by the men who inaugurated this great work. It was 
believed that from 50 to 75 per cent, of the imbeciles brought 
under instruction could be prepared for useful lives in society. 
But this hope was long ago abandoned, and Dr. Fernald esti- 
mated in 1893, that only 10 or 15 per cent, could be made self- 
supporting in the ordinary conditions of social life. Probably 



Report of Building Commissioners. 

before another decade passes these figures will have to be 
revised and 5 per cent, will be regarded as the maximum of 
those who can be returned to society, with a reasonable hope 
of success in life. In fact, now, superintendents of institu- 
tions are very loath to encourage parents of their brightest 
children in the hope that their child can be rescued for inde- 
pendent living in the ordinary walks of life. 

CUSTODIAL DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED. 

When experience showed conclusively that school training 
could not prepare for independent living, the question arose as 
to what disposition to make of those who had received all 
the school had to offer. Many were homeless and friendless. 
Parents dreaded to take children from a place where they 
were happy and contented. The schools found themselves un- 
der the necessities of establishing homes for the permanent 
care of these high grade imbeciles. When the home or custod- 
ial department was organized the demand was then made upon 
the schools to care for a great number of unimprovable idiots. 
The demand was so just and the need of care for this class 
was so imperative that the schools undertook the work. This 
department for custodial care was soon crowded and has be- 
come a prominent feature of the school for feeble-minded. It 
was found that the high grade imbeciles who had finished 
their school training could be of much assistance, under super- 
vision, in the care of these low grade idiots. Especially is 
this true of the female who will often devote herself to a 
helpless child with the tenderness and care of a mother. Thus 
was opened at the institution a new field of usefulness for 
those who had been trained in the school department, and it 
is said that the utilization of this labor at the institutions has 
reduced materially the per capita cost of maintenance. 

It must not be taken for granted that no training is given 
children in this department. While they are not in the reg- 
ular school work of the institution, yet they get what to them 

of, vastly more importance than ability to read or write. 
They are taught to form habits of cleanliness, to control the 
body and be self-helpful. It may require weeks to learn to 
pick up a stone, but when this has been accomplished, pro- 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 31 

gress has been made and the child is in better condition to ex- 
ercise control over his body than before. 

The 'custodials' are almost without exception improvable to some 
.:, usually to a relatively very great extent. The amount of train- 
ing on a very humble level which is given to these persons is enormous. 
In all institutions their physical habits are trained. They are taught 
decency; they are made useful in many humble, petty employments; they 
are, in short, given a life to lead and are shown how to lead it. The 
. ng thus imparted does two things: It first raises them out of 
utishness to the level of social beings, fitting them to mingle in 
relations of a home with the other inmates, and second, it is 
so continued as to form a check on the general tendency to degeneration 
of mind and body. The intellectual results of the training of the lower 
grades of the feeble-minded are therefore as distinct and as valuable 
to them as in the case of those who learn to read and write. 

REASON FOR CUSTODIAL DEPARTMENT. 

Dr. Fernald has stated in very forcible and concise lan- 
guage the reasons for the admission of this large class of low 
grade idiots into institutions and the creation of the custodial 
department for the permanent sequestration of imbeciles. 
"This lower class of idiots, many of them untidy, disgusting, 
and disagreeable habits, feeble physically, perhaps deformed 
and misshapen, often partially paralyzed or subject to epil- 
epsy, can not be given suitable care at home. There is no 
greater burden possible in a home or a neighborhood. It has 
been well said that by institution care of every five idiots 
cared for we restore four productive persons to the commun- 
ity; for, whereas, at home the care of each of these children 
practically requires the time and energies of one person, in an 
institution the proportion of paid employees is not over one to 
each five inmates. The home care of a low grade idiot con- 
es so much of the working capacity of the wage earner 
of the household that often the entire family become pauper- 
ized. Humanity and public policy demanded that these fami- 
lies should be relieved of the burden of these helpless idiots. 
From the nature of their infirmities it is evident that the care 
of this class must last as long as they live. As nearly every 
one of these low grade idiots becomes a public burden, it is 
better to assume this care when they are young and suscept- 
ible to a certain amount of training than to receive them later 
on, undisciplined, helpless, destructive, adult idiots. 



i 



32 Report of Building Commissioners. 

'The brighter class of the feeble-minded, with their weak 
will power and deficient judgment, are easily influenced for 
evil, and are prone to become vagrants, drunkards and thieves. 
The modern scientific study of the deficient and delinquent 
classes as a whole has demonstrated that a large proportion of 
our criminals, inebriates and prostitutes are really congenital 
imbeciles, who have been allowed to grow up without any at- 
tempt being made to improve or discipline them. Society suf- 
fers the penalty of this neglect in an increase of pauperism, 
and vice, and, finally, at a greatly increased cost, is compelled 
to take charge of adult idiots in almhouses and hospitals, and 
of imbecile criminals in jails and prisons, generally during the 
remainder of their natural lives. As a matter of mere econ- 
omy, it is now believed that it is better and cheaper for the 
community to assume the permanent care of this class before 
they have carried out a long career of expensive crime." 

EPILEPTIC DEPARTMENT. 

Many epileptics found their way into the institutions and 
experience with them soon showed that the severity of the 
disease could be lessened by medical treatment, proper exer- 
cise and careful attention to diet. To carry into effect these 
provisions necessary for their care, it was found expedient 
to separate the epileptics from the other inmates of the in- 
stitution, and thus was established in many schools the hos- 
pital for epileptics. 

Some States, however, among which are Ohio, New York, 
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Kansas, Texas, and Indiana,, 
make provisions for epileptics in separate institutions devot- 
ed exclusively to this class. But most of the other States 
have only a department for epileptics in their schools for 
feeble-minded. 

There is a question whether epileptics should be admitted 
to a school for feeble-minded. Authorities differ on the sub- 
ject. Dr. Kerlin says: "I have nowhere seen that any special 
advantages are claimed for this separate care of epileptics ; 
the argument that they are an affliction to those not affected 
by the symptoms is answered in the proposal to classify them 



Report of Building Commissioners. 33 

in separate buildings, as shall benefit them, and spare those 
whom they disturb." 

Superintendent Wilmarth, who has had life-long experience 
with feeble-minded and epileptics, holds the same view, which 
he expressed to your agent. It is, nevertheless, true, if the 
State were large enough to support two institutions, it would 
be best to make separate provision for each class, but since 
this is not practical in this State at the present time, it would 
seem wise to follow the lead of such states as Minnesota, 
Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and admit 
both classes to the institution. When the limit of the institu- 
tion is reached in numbers, the question of separate provision 
can then be considered. 

THE THREE-FOLD OBJECT. 

The character of schools for feeble-minded have, there- 
fore, been modified materially since their origin, a half-cen- 
tury ago. The object of such an institution as at present un- 
derstood is very clearly stated by the superintendent of the 
recently established School for Feeble-minded of North Da- 
kota. He says: "The institution has for its general object 
the training of such feeble-minded persons as are capable of 
improvement and the care and comfort of such as can not be 
improved. The former is accomplished by regular school and 
industrial work, adapted to this class, the ultimate aim being 
to make each child self-supporting, or as nearly so as pos- 
sible. To accomplish this, all the training will be of the most 
practical nature. The institution perfoms the function of a 
school, a home, and a hospital. It, therefore, consists of the 
three departments quite distinct in their nature, yet mutually 
connected, viz: (1) School and training department. (2) 
Custodial department. (3) Epileptic department." 

The educational department is still the center about which 
the institution is organized, but the rapid growth of the 
custodial department is not without danger to its pre-emi- 
nence in the organization, a fact a close observer will detect 
Build. Com.— 3 



34 Report of Building Commissioners. 

in a number of institutions, of the country. Dr. Kerlin, in his 
last report, gave a warning against the excessive growth of 
the custodial department which "unless vigilance and interest 
in the training department be maintained, will eventually 
greatly weaken its influence and usefulness." This must be 
borne in mind in the organization of a new institution. Prom- 
inence must be given to the educational department at its 
inception. 

THE NUMBER OF FEEBLE-MINDED. 

It is very difficult to get figures that are regarded as reliable 
as to the number of feeble-minded in the country. Many par- 
ents are so sensitive that they are not willing to admit that 
their unfortunate child belongs to this class. One thing is 
certain ; the number is very large, and the provision for their 
care will be nearly as extensive as that required for the 
insane. 

The census of 1880 gave, in round numbers, 92,000 insane, 
76,000 feeble-minded; that of 1890 gave 106,000 insane, and 
95,000 feeble-minded. 

Dr. Fernald says it is safe to say that there are two feeble- 
minded persons to every 1000 of our population, and that 
there are 150,000 in the United States. Probably no one in 
the country has made a more careful study of the subject than 
Dr. Fernald, and his estimate may be accepted as approxi- 
mately correct. For ordinary purposes the numbers of the in- 
sane and feeble-minded may be regarded as about the same. 
Alexander Johnson, another authority on the subject, a few 
years ago said that there were 100,000 of each class, while 
75 per cent, of the insane were cared for by the State, only 
10 per cent, of the feeble-minded were in institutions. Yet 
the danger from reproductive increase in the last class is 
much greater than in the first. States are just beginning to 
realize the danger of the feeble-minded to society and provis- 
ion for their care is proceeding with feverish haste in every 
State where the importance of the work has forced itself on 
the public mind. Nearly every institution visited by your 
agent was engaged in erecting new buildings and it is almost 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 3"> 

Impossible to find a report of any institution issued in recent 
years, that does not urge, in the most imperative terms, the 
need of more buildings to accommodate the growing pop- 
ulation. 

IXDEQUATE PREPARATION. 

Xo State in the Union is making adequate provisions for 
this class, and you will find almost as many clamoring for ad- 
mission as you find within the walls of the institution. The 
Massachusetts school has 800 on the waiting list; Wisconsin 
home, 550; Craig colony, 800; Rome Custodial Asylum, 400; 
Elwyn, Pennsylvania, 3,500. All the institutions are full and 
over flowing, and it is believed if all would at once double 
their capacity, they would be filled to their limit again within 
eighteen months. 

Massachusetts has a large institution for the feeble-minded, 
and two small ones for epileptics. The last Legislature estab- 
lished another large institution for the feeble-minded; Penn- 
sylvania has just established an institution to house 1000 
children, in addition to the 2,350 already cared for in two 
large institutions. Indiana has recently established a colony 
for epileptics which will have 1,000 population, and Iowa is 
contemplating such a move to relieve the crowded condition 
of the school for feeble-minded in that state. Maine, Rhode 
Island, Utah, Idaho, Virginia, West Virginia, Colorado, and 
Montana have either taken steps, or will soon do so, with the 
permanent care of this class in view. 

The following table gives the names of the State institutions 
in the United States, the date of founding, the capacity, the 
per capita cost of maintenance, the amount of land and the 
value of the buildings and grounds : 






Report of Building Commissioners. 



■« 'institution. 


Date. 


Capacity. 


Per cap- 
ita cost. 


Acreage. 


Value. 


MassachnsoettM School for Feeble-Minded 


ISIS 


1.050 


8 160 


2,000 


9 4:;7,rn)0 


State Institution for Feeble-Mlnded Children 












(N. Y.) 


1850 


629 


150 


274 


423,500 


Connecticut school for Imbeciles 


1852 


264 


180 




12,500 


Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Mlnded 












Children . 


1853 


1,150 


190 


337 


750,000 


Ohio Institution for Feeble-Minded Youth 


1857 


1,250 


155 


1,100 


1,219,000 


Kentucky Institution forTraiulngand Education 












of Feeble-Mlnded Children 


1860 


200 


152 


95 


50,000' 


Illinois Asylum fo<- Feeble-Minded children 


1865 


1,400 


140 


200 


050,000 ■ 


school tor Feeble-Minded (New York City) 


1870 


800 


234 


167 


1,000,000 


Iowa Institution lor Feeble-Mlnded Children 


1870 


1,150 


144 


800 


416,000 


Indiana School for Feeble-Mlnded Youth- _ _._ 


1876 


1,040 


122 


300 


552,000 


Kansas school fo* Feeble-Mlnded Youth 


1880 


400 


155 


275 


150,000 


California Homo for the Care of Feeble-Minded 












Children _ .. . 


1885 


600 


150 


1,700 


450,000 


New York State Custodial Asvlnin for Feeble- 














1885 


600 


200 


50 


275,000 


New Jersey Home for Feeble-Minded Girls and 






1886 


150 


190 


160 


110,000 


New .Jersey Training School for Feeble-Minded 




Boys and Girls ___ . . ._. 


1888 


850 


228 


200 


280.000 


Nebraska Institution for Feeble-Minded Youth 


1887 


400 


129 


225 


250,000 


Maryland school for Feeble-Minded 


1888 


200 


220 


186 


150,(100 




1892 

1895 


100 

700 


"~~m 


200 
1,025 


62,500 


Wisconsin Home for Feeble-Minded 


45i),0C0 


state Institution for Feeble-Minded of Western 














1897 


1,240 


160 


1,100 


750,000 


Rome (N. Y.) State Custodial Asylum - 


1894 


700 


144 


500 


450,000 


Michigan Home for Feeble-Minded - 


1894 


800 


166 


160 


270,000 


North Dakota Institution for Feeble-Minded 


1901 


75 


220 


40 


75,000 


Missouri Colony for Feeble-Mi nded and Epileptics 


1899 


300 


175 


240 


270,000 


South Dakota School for Feeble-Minded 


1901 
1901 


60 

85 






112,000 


New Hampshire School for Feeble-Minded 


250 


250 


70,000 


FOR EPILEPTICS. 














1892 


1,000 

1,050 

250 


147 


230 


450,000 


Craig Colony for Epileptics (N. Y.)_ 


1894 


166 


1,900 


600,000 


Massachussetts Hospital for Epileptics 


1895 




237 


250,000 


Massachusetts Hospital for Epileptic Children.. 


1882 




210 


200 


175,00() 




1898 


120 




250 


150,000 




1899 


224 


137 


640 






1902 


400 




640 


350,000 







SUMMARY. 

Twenty-two States support thirty-three separate institu- 
tions for the feeble-minded and epileptic. The number cared 
for is not less than 17,500, and the annual cost of maintenance- 
exceeds $2,500,000. The amount invested in lands and build- 
ings is over $10,000,000. 



THE NUMBER OF FEEBLE-MINDED IN OREGON. 

To undertake to provide for the feeble-minded is no small 
task for any State to assume. If Oregon establishes one now, 
it will have a population of 1,000 in less than twenty-five 
years. There are now in this State 1,000 to 1,200 persons 
who are feeble-minded. But many of them are well cared for 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 37 

tomes, and so long as they can receive such care the State 
need have no Concern. There are many others less fortunately 
i.ted. We have seventy or eight of this class in the asylum 
at Salem, and Judge Frazier says eighty-four defective child- 
ren passed through the Juvenile Court at Portland last year. 
re is not a small town in Oregon that does not have one or 
more children who need the care of an institution of this kind. 
Hampshire, which has about two-thirds of our popula- 
tion, made provision for eighty-five children in 1901. The in- 
itial! was soon filled and now has 150 On the waiting list, 
and doubtless would have had more applications had it not 
been known that the school was full. It is, therefore, evident 
we shall have a large number demanding admission, but since 
greater number of officers and employees will be inexperi- 
enced in this work, and the inmates untrained, it would seem 
_ to begin the institution with not more than 200 persons. 
It is, therefore, recommended that provisions be made by 
the state for 200 inmates. 

WHO ARE ADMITTED. 

Feeble-minded persons, of both sexes, ranging in ages from 
two or three to sixty and seventy, are found in the institu- 
tions. Some schools limit the age of admission between five 
and twenty or thirty or under forty-five for females, but after 
once admitted they remain at the institution for life unless 
satisfactory reasons are found for their removal. The matter 
of age, as well as other conditions relative to admission, should 
be left in the hands of the Board of Trustees to prescribe, so 
that it may be regulated to conform with the ability of the in- 
;tion to care for those making application. 

PER CAPITA COST. 

The cost of maintenance varies in different States, owing 
to local conditions. A glance at the table given elsewhere 
> that the per capita cost is in the neighborhood of $160 
per year, or $13.33 a month. It has been said that the per 
capita cost can be brought below this figure, but so far but 
few institutions have reduced it very much. 



38 Report of Building Commissioners. 

The trustees of the new institution being erected in Penn- 
sylvania promise to make it self-sustaining in ten or twelve 
years. I regret I am unable to hold out to you such a hope 
for our institution. Nearly one-third of the population will 
be small children, in school most of the time, another large 
class will be helpless and require even the food they eat to be 
placed in their mouths. Others will be able to care for them- 
selves, but on account of a weak body, as well as a weak mind, 
will be unable to contribute anything toward their support. 

Indiana has been able to support its school on $122 per 
capita, which, I think, is as low as can ever be expected if a 
high standard of efficiency is maintained among the officers 
and employes. 

The cost of maintenance is a little less than that of the in- 
sane, as the following table will show : 





Feehle- 


,.„., 




144 
15.5 
122 
160 
160 


144 to ISO- 




153 




16ft 




168 




235- 







An institution with only 200 inmates will require a larger 
per capita than a larger one, and it would be unsafe to esti- 
mate less than $200 per capita for the first year. If you pre- 
pare for 200 inmates, probably more than half of the bien- 
nial term will be gone before the school is ready for occu- 
pancy. It will, therefore, require an appropriation by the 
coming session of the Legislature of $20,000 for maintenance 
for six months. 

LOCATION. 

The law of the Legislature of 1905, referred to before in 
this report, makes it the duty of the Capital Building Com- 
mission to select a site for the new institution. This Board 
will not be called upon to perform a more important duty in 
connection with the institution than this one. It is of vital 
importance that this duty be carefully and thoughtfully dis- 
charged. It is not a rare thing, even in our own State, to, 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 39 

find an institution's usefulness hampered or almost totally de- 
stroyed by an ill-chosen location. 

An ideal location would be a secluded valley, upon whose 
sunny slopes these simple people might dwell away from the 
public gaze. 

Among the first things that should be considered is the dis- 
tance the institution shall be from Salem. In this connection 
I wish to quote from a letter of Superintendent Rogers of the 
Minnesota school to the authorities of Indiana, charged with 
the duty of selecting a location for a colony for epileptics. He 
says : 

It is really a difficult matter sometimes to select a location easily 
accessible and yet having a proper isolation. In my judgment colonies 
and village communities should not be located very near any town. 
The distance from town should be sufficient to prevent its being made 
the daily resort even of employees, to say nothing of the patients who 
should especially avoid the excitement and allurements offered by a city 
life except under very careful supervision and at rare intervals. 

Proximity to a town is one of the things I have in mind in my sixth 
condition, and it is one of the things that I think is not usually appre- 
ciated in the location of a public institution. If employees of an in- 
stitution are freely visiting town, especially one where there are many 
saloons, a feature of conduct is introduced which it is very difficult to 
control among the men ; and the residence at some distance from town 
not only eliminates from the employment those people who make a 
passable showing in their work, but never attain the best results because 
of more or less pronounced intemperance, but it enables an administra- 
tion to develop a better ideal community spirit and to bring all em- 
ployees into a better harmony concerning the broad purposes and ideals 
for which an institution is established. It is astonishing how this spirit 
can be affected, modified, and sometimes almost destroyed by the influ- 
ence of outside interests of commercial or other nature. As to definite 
distance from a town I would say not nearer than three miles (of 
course this is arbitrary), and if the city were very large I would in- 
crease the distance, it being understood, of course, that market centers 
are easily reached by good transportation facilities. 

Superintendent Murdoch of the Western Pennsylvania In- 
stitution for feeble-minded, in conversation with your agent 
on this subject, expressed a similar view, which follows: 

Do not get a location near a huge town. It does not matter how far 
you are away, if you have a railroad near to bring supplies needed, 
people who have business at the institution. A town interests child 



40 Report of Building Commissioners. 

al grown, and they are frequently lured away from 
>] with hope of finding work or something of that kind. If a town 
is near by the liberty of the whole school is restricted, because you 
can never feel safe when you know how prone children are to go to 
town. Here at Polk children can be given much liberty because it is not 
possible for them to go as far away as the nearest town. 

The effect of a large town on the employees is also bad. Their inter- 
are divided between the school and the town. They become so 
interested in outside affairs that their usefulness at the institution is 
greatly lessened. 

In view of these statements, the force of which were em- 
phasized by my observation of other institutions, I would sug- 
gest that this phase of the subject be given due consideration. 

LARGE ACREAGE REQUIRED. 

There is a unanimity of opinion among superintendents of 
schools for the feeble-minded on the necessity of a large acre- 
age for an institution. The larger institutions have from 400 
to 2,000 acres of land ; none of them have too much and most 
of them are seeking means for the purchase of more. The 
rule is to have one acre of land for each child the school is 
expected to accommodate. There is also a general agreement 
among superintendents as to the ultimate size to which an in- 
stitution should grow. It is believed that the best results can 
not be attained where one man has under his supervision 
more than 1,000 inmates. Therefore, an institution designed 
for this number, and all should be so designed, should have' 
1,000 acres of land. 

It is very difficult for one who is not familiar with the work 
of one of these large schools to comprehend how so much land 
can be utilized. A few expressions on the subject from men 
who speak from experience in the matter, will be of interest 
and profit. 

Superintendent Rogers, in asking the Legislature of Min- 
nesota to purchase 400 acres additional land, which his school 
has leased for a number of years, has this to say in reference 
to the matter: 

If it had not been well understood for many years by all conversant 
on the subject that farming, gardening, and dairying were appropriate 
occupations for our feeble-minded boys who had had school training, the 



I 



Report ok Building Commissioners. 41 

experience of this institution has abundantly demonstrated it. Under 
judicious management, our farm boys form a happy, contented family 
of valuable workers. In my judgment, the central features of an in- 
stitution farm for the feeble-minded should be dairying and gardening. 
These, of course, involve the support of a large amount of stock and 
•Ilaneous crops upon the farm would therefore be required to sup- 
port the stock. This means a large acreage for corn, oats, meadow and 
pasture, in addition to that required for vegetables, among which 
potatoes, in this climate, naturally require the largest acreage. I 
earnestly urge upon the Board the desirability of recommending to the 
Legislature the purchase of another large addition of land for the 
use of the school. 

The following is from a report on schools for feeble-minded 
to the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, made 
in 1898, by Superintendent F. M. Powell, of the Iowa school: 

Many of the institutions are reasonably well provided with land, and 
this is of practical importance. Much of the inmate labor can be 
utilized on the farm, garden, and orchard; and the profits materially 
lessen the per capita cost. It has been conceded for years that each 
ution should be provided with at least one acre per inmate; and, 
e grow in years, it is thought by some that even more than this 
is needed. 

Letchworth, in his valuable book on the care and treatment 
of epileptics, says: 

Xo hard-and-fast rule can be laid down for the amount of land re- 
quired for an epileptic colony, which should be largely agricultural; but 
for the smallest enterprise of this kind it is advisable to have at least 
five hundred acres. If it is thought that the institution will eventually 
provide for one thousand inmates, from fifteen hundred to two thousand 
acres will not be found too much. An instance is not on record of a 
State having suffered loss by making a large investment of land in 
purchasing a site for a State institution. A large acreage of land is 
desirable, not only for the opportunity afforded for giving patients out- 
door work, but in order to reduce the cost of maintenance by producing 
supplies, including meat, milk, and eggs, as well as vegetables. 

EXPERIENCE OF OTHER STATES. 

In spite of this expert opinion on the subject only two or 
three schools have been established with sufficient land at the 
beginning. The new institution now under construction in 
Pennsylvania made the same old mistake of starting without 
enough land. Dr. Fitzsimmons, who is a member of the 



42 Report of Building Commissioners. 

Board of Trustees, said in an address before the National 
Conference of Charities and Correction, a few months ago, 
that the institution would require 400 acres of land in addition 
to the 300 acres which was purchased at first. The institu- 
tion is not open yet, but it is realized already that 700 acres 
of land will be required to carry out the plans of the institu- 
tion. It is said that the 400 acres that must be purchased 
now will cost nearly as much as the 700 acres could have been 
purchased for before the buildings were begun. 

North Dakota started its institution on a tract of 40 acres 
in 1903, and the first report of the superintendent has this 
to say in reference to the matter: "More land is required 
for the economical maintenance of the institution. The pros- 
pective grounds about the building take up nearly fifteen 
acres, leaving only twenty-five acres for cultivation. There 
should be at least one acre for every inmate. Thus, with a 
population of 150, including employees, there should be 150 
acres of land." He recommends the purchase of 100 acres of 
land to meet present needs. 

The Iowa institution for feeble-minded had, in 1898, 300 
acres of land, but since that time the need has been so press- 
ing for more land, that the Legislature has appropriated $45,- 
000 for this purpose. 

The Michigan school was established in 1894 on 160 acres. 
The amount of land was found to be inadequate, and the Leg- 
islature of 1894 was asked for an appropriation of $50,000 
for the purchase of 1,000 acres of land for the use of the in- 
stitution. 

Ohio has had similar experience as well as nearly all the 
rest of the States that did not secure a large acreage to begin 
with. All have paid exhorbitant prices for the land they have 
had to purchase in this way, and Oregon should profit by the 
experience of these States. 

THE ACREAGE REQUIRED. 

In this State the conditions may be a little different than in 
some of the Eastern States. Here the land is very fertile, and 
is especially adapted to intensified farming. The ease with 
which vegetables, berries, and small fruits are grown in this 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 43 

climate will probably make less land a necessity. But, in view 
of the fact that the institution will be a large one in time, and 
that no State has ever lost a dollar by investment of land for 
this purpose, I would recommend that the Board purchase or 
take options on 800 to 1,000 acres of land for the use of the 
institution. 

POINTS TO CONSIDER. 

In purchasing land for an institution several things must 
be taken into consideration. 

First — It should be in a healthful locality, free from swamps 
or bodies of stagnant water. Drainage and facility for sew- 
erage disposal should be good. 

Second — There should be an abundant supply of good water, 
both for use at the school and for fire protection. If there is * 
any question about its purity, chemical analysis should be 
made to determine the facts. If a supply of water could be 
obtained by gravity the advantage is very great, as pumping 
water for an institution is a continual expense. Water power 
on the institution grounds that could be developed without too 
great expense, might be utilized to generate light and power.. 

Third — The third thing to be considered is accessibility to 
market centers and railway transportation lines. Unless 
there is an unlimited supply of timber for fuel within easy 
reach, the institution should be on or near a railroad or trol- 
ley line. If a side-track or spur could be laid from a rail- 
road to the building site the cost of putting the building ma- 
terial on the ground would be greatly lessened. Such a spur, 
so I am informed, can probably be constructed for $2,000 a 
mile. Another thing that should be considered in this connec- 
tion is a good wagon road to the nearest market center. 

Fourth — The land should be variable with plenty of rich 
bottom land for gardening. It should also have land suitable 
for orchards, small fruits and for dairying and farming. Not 
half of the land need be under cultivation now. It matters 
not how wild the land is, if when cleared the soil will be pro- 
ductive. Feeble-minded boys are especially adapted to work 
of this kind and could clear the land before its need would be 



44 Report of Building Commissioners. 

pressing, and at the same time supply the school with fuel, 
as the land is cleared of its growth of timber. 

Fifth — A good sightly building place should also be consid- 
ered. There should be room for a park and recreation 
grounds of from fifty to sixty acres, in close proximity to the 
buildings. 

It has been suggested that the State advertise for proposals 
of sites from which the Board make a selection after all sites 
offered have been viewed. This plan is practical and has 
yielded very satisfactory results in New York and Indiana, 
where it has been tried. 

THE COTTAGE PLAN. 

In the care of feeble-minded it is very important to classify 
the inmates as far as possible. It is not right to bring the 
high grade imbecile child into close contact with one of low 
grade. All agree that the cottage system is the best adapted 
for an institution of this character, as it affords the best 
means for classification. The cottages vary in capacity from 
twenty to 150 persons. The small cottage is very expensive 
for administrative purposes and the large one does not permit 
the classification that is desired. It is therefore believed that 
the cottage should accommodate not less than sixty nor more 
than eighty for the best practical results. These buildings 
should be separated from each other by 150 to 250 feet and 
should be arranged about a central heating plant, which 
should provide heat and hot water for all the buildings. 
There should also be a central dining room, to which all ex- 
cept the invalids could go for their meals. The dormitory 
buildings should be constructed with every possible facility 
for ventilation and light. They should have windows on three 
sides and ventilated by a system of flues. The toilet arrange- 
ments should be of the very best, and adequate to meet every 
need of the inmates. There should be at least five stools, two 
shower baths, also a bath tub for each of the two dormitories 
in a building. The day rooms should also be well provided 
with toilet facilities. 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 45 

THE BUILDINGS. 

It is gratifying to see more rational ideas governing the 
erection of public buildings. States are no longer erecting 
massive structures as monuments to the fame of architects, 
but are putting up plain, durable, yet inexpensive structures 
adapted to the purposes for which they are intended. Thirty 
years ago the hospital for the insane at Danvers, Massachu- 
setts, was begun. The cost per capita for buildings was 
$1,500 for each patient. Now extentions to meet the increase 
are made for $250 per capita. The buildings being erected 
now are small, wooden cottages, and are regarded as more 
satisfactory for a large class of patients than the old style 
building. California is following the same plan and all build- 
ings erected in that State for the care of insane are con- 
structed of wood. The Minnesota school for feeble-minded 
has recently erected a wooden structure as a dormitory for 
eighty feeble-minded boys. The Massachusetts school for 
feeble-minded has erected four cottages and will put up all the 
buildings at the colony at Templeton of wood. 

There was a time when a brick building was regarded as 
essential on account of the danger of fire. That was when 
large numbers, four or six hundred, were domiciled in one 
building, some of them on the fourth or fifth floor. Then 
buildings were heated by stoves or furnaces within the build- 
ings and lighted with lamps or candles. The cooking was also 
done in the building. But this time has passed away. Build- 
ings, if properly constructed, are now only two stories high, 
and accommodate but a small number. They are heated from 
a central heating plant, two or three hundred feet away, and 
lighted by electricity. The cooking is done at a distance from 
the living rooms, and fire for no purpose is ever kindled 
within two or three hundred feet of the building where the 
inmates reside. The possibility of nre is practically removed 
and the expenditure of large sums of money for fire-proof 
buildings is a waste of public funds. If the brick building is 
of slow burning construction it is just as liable to destruction 
by fire as the wooden building, for most buildings that burn 
catch on fire from within. Wood is our natural building 



16 Report of Building Commissioners. 

material, and we can construct our buildings of it at one- 
half the expense of brick. 

Then, in this climate, it is almost impossible to put up a 
brick wall that will turn water against a beating rain. These 
walls draw dampness and more heat is required to keep the 
building in a sanitary condition. 

In 1898 Leich worth had the following to say on the subject 
of wooden buildings: 

Heretofore it has been generally considered that brick and stone were 
the only suitable materials to be used in the building of State institu- 
tions. The experience in the use of wooden buildings in some public 
charitable institutions raises the question whether wood for two-story 
cottage dwellings may not enter more largely into their construction. 
In the use of brick or stone greater precautions must be taken, at in- 
creased cost, to guard against dampness. Brick absorbs a great deal of 
moisture, which is an element of disintegration when frozen, and is not 
a durable material unless it be painted, and painting from time to time 
renewed. Wood, if laid on dry stone foundations and kept well painted, 
may last for centuries. 

Fires usually originate in dwellings from the inside, and a wooden 
building therefore is as safe as a brick one, except in a general con- 
flagration, which would hardly occur in a colony with a good water 
supply and a trained fire corps, in addition to a subordinate corps in 
each household, and a night watch. With hydrants on each floor, and 
hose attached, it would seem that the danger from fire would be reduced 
to the minimum. 

Two-story wooden cottages can be tastefully constructed with pleasing 
exteriors and convenient interiors, at a comparatively low expenditure. 
I think it safe to say that dwellings of this character suitable for 
epileptics may be built and furnished with facilities for heating and 
lighting at a cost not exceeding $200 per capita, and that these will 
average better in quality than the average farmers' dwellings in pros- 
perous sections of the country. I would not recommend the entire sub- 
stitution of wood for brick, even for moderate-sized structures, but it 
would seem well to give wooden dwellings a trial on a limited scale. 

I desire to say that I went into the investigation of this 
subject much prejudiced against frame buildings, bat after 
due consideration I am persuaded that the interests of all will 
by best conserved by erecting the institution buildings of 
wood upon a brick or concrete foundation. 



I 



Report of Building Commissioners. 47 

THE BUILDINGS REQUIRED. 

The buildings required for 200 inmates and for the neces- 
sary officers and employees, with the estimated cost furnished 
are as follows : 

Three dormitory buildings $37, 500 

One administration building, including dining room and kitchen.... 25,000 

One power house 3,500 

One laundry 2,500 

One cottage (employees) '. 2,500 

One barn 3,000 

THE FARM AND DAIRY. 

The farm is not only a profitable source of income, but it 
affords the very best kind of employment for a large class of 
boys. The school at Vineland, New Jersey, under the man- 
agement of E. R. Johnstone, cultivates about 160 acres of 
land. From this small tract is produced annually products 
that are valued at from $10,000 to $12,000. The school is a 
small one, having an attendance of only 350 inmates. The 
farm is conducted on the most scientific methods. It is really 
an experimental farm and has had a great influence on the 
agriculture of the State. The seed corn and potatoes pro- 
duced on the farm, as well as the pure-bred cattle and hogs, 
bring exhorbitant prices in the market. The farm is devoted 
to orchards, garden, and dairy. 

The farm is therefore the most important thing in connec- 
tion with the institution outside of the school department, 
and should be given special attention. This fact should be 
impressed upon the management of the school at every op- 
portunity until its importance is fully realized. 

The dairy at the Xew Jersey school is a model for neatness, 

stem, and close attention to details. Great care is observed 
in feeding the cows, providing the proper ventilation, looking 
after shelter from the hot sun as well as the storm, and pro- 
tection from insects that annoy cattle. A record is made of 
the milk each cow produces, both as to quantity and quality, 
and if one falls below 7,000 pounds of milk in a year for two 
years in succession she La disposed of to the butcher. 



I s Report of Building Commissioners. 

I would suggest that in the beginning two or three thor- 
oughbred Holstein cows be purchased, with a good bull, as 
the basis for a herd. That will, in a few years, with ordinary 
care, give cows to produce all the butter and milk the institu- 
tion requires. In this connection it might be well to say that 
milk forms an important article of diet for the feeble-minded 
and epileptics, children especially. Those who do not have 
hard work to do are happy to make one meal a day on bread 
and milk. 

The farm will require twelve horses, which, with harness, 
will cost $2,200. Farm machinery and implements of all 
kinds, including a buggy, wagons, and a large carriage, will 
cost about $1,500. 

There should be eighteen or twenty cows for the dairy. 
They will cost $1,000, providing three cows and one bull are 
pure-blood Holstein, otherwise the expense will be $300 less. 

OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. 

Upon the character of the officers and employees will large- 
ly depend the utility of the institution. The selection of these 
will require discrimination and careful inquiry into the fitness 
of persons for the various places. Most will depend upon 
the superintendent. He must be a good executive, with 
abundant energy and a heart overflowing with sympathy for 
the unfortunate ones who will come under his care. Most 
of the institutions have a physician for superintendent, but 
very few have ever been engaged in the profession as prac- 
titioners. Some have had institution training in hospitals 
for the insane and from there have gone into subordinate 
positions in these institutions or to the superintendency of 
the newly established schools. The position, however, is one 
that requires executive rather than medical skill. None of 
the superintendents of the large schools do medical work. 
This is performed almost wholly by subordinates. But in a 
small school, the superintendent, if a physician, can attend to 
the medical work along with his other duties. 

While most of the superintendents are physicians, there 
are a few exceptions where those outside the profession have 
made splendid records in the administration of these institu- 



Report of Building Commissioners. 19 

tions. When Alexander Johnson left the Indiana school a 
few years ago, it was one of the best in the country, having 
been brought up to a high standard of efficiency by his untir- 
ing efforts. Prof. E. R. Johnstone, of Vineland, New Jersey, 
has made his institution famous throughout the country. The 
training department has been given special attention and the 
institution holds a high rank for the character of the work 
it performs. 

The institution on Randall's Island, New York, in charge of 
Mrs. Dumphey, is a decided success. The school has made 
manual and industrial training a special feature and probably 
excels all others in this line of work. 

One of the institutions has placed the medical work in 
charge of a woman physician with highly satisfactory results. 
The feeble-minded require little medicine but much sympathy 
and mothering. The woman physician is of course especially 
adapted to this kind of treatment. 

It has been found very satisfactory to place a boys' dormi- 
tory in the charge of a man and his wife. They work to- 
gether and the result is much better than having two men in 
one dormitory. 

As most of the work about an institution is performed by 
the inmates, there is very little necessity for ordinary ser- 
vants. The employees must be reliable men and women who 
possess good judgment and have tact and ability to manage, 
in order to get the most out of those whose work they are 
directing. 

Superintendent Murdoch, of the Western Pennsylvania 
school, suggests the following officers and employees for an 
institution with 200 inmates : One superintendent, one ma- 
tron, one engineer, two supervisors, twelve attendants, two 
night watches, two cooks, two laundry women, three teachers, 
one farmer. 

This makes twenty-seven in all, or one officer or employee ti 
eight inmates. The ratio of officers and employees to inmates 
runs from one to five, to one to ten, in the various institutions 
of the country. 
Build. ( '<>m. 4 



50 Report of Building Commissioners. 

expense of investigation. 

In making the investigation of the various institutions in 
the United States, named before in this report I traveled 
nearly 8,000 miles. The following is a statement of the 
expense : 

Railroad fare and sleeper $167.50 

Hotels and restaurants 36.15 

Books : 9.89 

Typewriting 2.90 

Postage 3.00 

Total $219.44 

CONCLUSION. 

In discussing idiocy, Dr. Howe says: "We maintain that 
they (idiots) have the germ of human faculties and senti- 
ments, which in most cases may be developed. Indeed, the 
number of persons left by any society in a state of idiocy is 
one test of the degree of advancement of that society in true 
and Christian civilization." We can not delay this important 
work much longer in Oregon without laying ourselves liable 
to the charge of neglecting one of the important duties which 
civilization has imposed upon us as a people. Oregon must 
not be the last Northern State to make provision for this 
class, and it is to be hoped that the wise plans of the last 
Legislature will be carried into effect by the coming session. 

I wish to acknowledge my gratitude to the superintendents 
and officers of the institutions visited for their courtesy and 
many acts of kindness shown me in my inquiries, also the 
Capital Building Commissioners for the interest they have 
always manifested in this investigation. 
Respectfully submitted, 

( rEORGE W. J ONES. 



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027 331 736 3J 



